The minimum goal for this year is supposed to be the total number they sold last year.

Then that makes it all the more discouraging when we're not even a 3rd of the way there yet. Are there really that many subscribers from last year really choose not to renew for a 2nd year?

Well, I know that a number of people have been waiting to get paid (this week and next, I guess) before they subscribe, but there are people who subscribed this year, went through some serious crap with Digital River and have decided it's just not worth it. I guess we'll see how large the one group is compared to the other. Note: for simplicity's sake, I've left out a third group who is comprised of collectors who were excited by one or two (or even three or four) of last year's reveals, are pretty underwhelmed by what they saw this year, and are hesitant to sign up again on the off chance that they might see a figure they actually like later in the year.

It's funny when you consider the value some of us as collectors put on the same products in different situations. I'm not a completest with DCUC (that was DCIH for me, R.I.P.). I'd say I have about 65-70% of the line. I am now considering a sub even though there are no characters I HAVE to have, and some I don't care to have. Still, I'm trying to reason paying $26 for Wally West and Saint Walker, and sometimes I can talk myself into it. Meanwhile, at a couple of my TRU's, GL CLassics are on clearance for $10.98, and there sit two characters I really do care about, Carol Ferris and Sodam Yat, yet I haven't pulled the trigger on buying them. I tell myself "maybe they'll be discounted further." Yet with the Sub, and even with "cherry picking" from day-of sub sales, I can somehow justify paying $26 for characters I don't need, just because of the limited nature of Matty items and the hype around them. Weird.

I hadn't watched the video until I read your post, bnjmnrlyr, as I figure it does not apply to me (I plan to get a DCIE Sub this weekend), but it was well done, even if my favorite part had nothing to do with the subscription (the $1 a year price increase, which follows my theory that taxes should be raised every year, instead of held steady until a BIG increase is needed four years later; but that's another subject ).

There are so many factors at play here -- dislike for what was shown, patience for dealing with Digital River coming to and end, economics, a combo of those and others, etc -- who really knows why the subs are so stagnant lately.

I am not thrilled with the DCIE sub offering shown, mainly the rainbow lanterns, but I am still getting the sub because I like the line overall and I am going on faith that the ratio of what I like will improve or at least stay the same. I am sure some are in the same 'like' boat as me, but are not going to take that leap of faith. But with the way things have gone for DC lately, I think it is either the subscription for non-52 stuff, or we are stuck with DC 52-only going forward for quite a while. When that day happens, I will be very sad, so I will put up with figures I don't really care for, so long as that number stays under 50%.

Having the characters I want such as Ram-Man and hopefully Huntress, Vixen or Mera (as Poison Ivy was for this year) in DCIE is enough to make the whole subscription worth it for me. I'm not necessarily familiar with all the other characters but their inclusion in action figure form is a good introduction for me. I try to read about them and find out who they are. These characters still fit the universes they exist in (whether MOTU or DCU). And whether you like the characters or not, these are all very nice figures. Yes, there are some quality control issues but heck, hardly any of the over $50 DCD Ame-comi figures I have are still standing due to broken parts!

I'm sad to hear that 2014 (if not 2013) might be the last year for MOTUC. I wonder how much figures would cost if they further reduced the number of figures produced just to continue some sort of subscription program into 2015? I suppose I might be coerced into paying $40/figure if that meant getting Horde Troopers or Queen Angella. These figures are still worth that price compared to what exclusives were going for during 90s action figure boom. Who remembers paying similar prices for monkey face Leia, Angela from Spawn, Warrior Nun Areala, or Moore's Witchblade figures?

I'm sad to hear that 2014 (if not 2013) might be the last year for MOTUC. I wonder how much figures would cost if they further reduced the number of figures produced just to continue some sort of subscription program into 2015? I suppose I might be coerced into paying $40/figure if that meant getting Horde Troopers or Queen Angella.

ToyGuru quotes from today on the Matty forums regarding MOTUC: "We have over 50% to go. We are at 46% of the min orders we need as of right now. If we don't hit 100% of the min it means fewer figs at higher prices (i.e. 30-35.00 per figure and likely only 4-6 figs for the whole year)."

I'm sad to hear that 2014 (if not 2013) might be the last year for MOTUC. I wonder how much figures would cost if they further reduced the number of figures produced just to continue some sort of subscription program into 2015? I suppose I might be coerced into paying $40/figure if that meant getting Horde Troopers or Queen Angella.

ToyGuru quotes from today on the Matty forums regarding MOTUC: "We have over 50% to go. We are at 46% of the min orders we need as of right now. If we don't hit 100% of the min it means fewer figs at higher prices (i.e. 30-35.00 per figure and likely only 4-6 figs for the whole year)."

Hmmm...Well I guess it's good that he's letting people know upfront where MOTUC stands unlike Ghostbusters last year. The only good news I could get out of this is that at least at 50% of the minimum goal some figures will still be produced instead of a total cancellation of the line and sub program.

I think the sub would be canceled, cause they couldn't up the price like that on the people who bought in. So the sub would be canceled, but then they'd have a few items that would still be sold (a la the final six JLU 3-packs).

Mattel has always said they were trying to space out heavy hitters to sustain the longevity of the MOTUC sub, but at SDCC they showed us Ram Man, Jitsu, Filmation Randor, Frosta, Mosquitor, Rattlor, etc. These are some of the heaviest hitters they have left to produce! They're winding down the line and really packing the subs with some of the best figures! This is the worst time for interest to die down when we're so close to completing a full collection. They're releasing fan-demanded figure after fan-demanded figure. The price increase was inevitable. I don't know why everyone is so shocked.

For the DCIE sub, we're getting Elongated Man, Platinum, Tin, Uncle Sam, Phantom Stranger, Mallah and the brain, Wally West Flash...these are all characters people have been clamoring for forever! We can finally get them! Why aren't people buying the subs? It's so frustrating. Lead is a huge disappointment for me on the Darkseid buck, because he seems inappropriately enormous. I think Mattel made a huge, desperate mistake with him, but overall, the offering is strong, and if the sub doesn't go well, say goodbye to Earth II Robin or Perez Zatanna or countless others we could otherwise get.

The Watchmen sub I think is perhaps the least enticing offering. 6 figures that cost more than other DC figures? Eh. Manhattan's head is too small for his body, and his use of a DC buck just doesn't work, especially with the cut of his black shorts and the "underwear" lines on the buck. A translucent variant of him should have been produced (perhaps as a SDCC exclusive to kick off the sub - missed opportunity), and I haven't head anything about swappable heads, but Rorschach needs a maskless head; the Comedian will need at least 3 different heads to complete all his looks, so this sub won't be very definitive, by any means, and I just don't believe Mattel put enough thought or effort into it to really sell it - but I'm still going to gamble and buy a sub and see what happens.

I really hope people end up subscribing. Mattel gave everyone until August 6th to sign up (almost a month) so that no one would complain that they didn't have an adequate chance. That's more than enough time for anyone to sign up. Personally, I like waiting until more near the deadline just so I can be charged for the subs as late as possible, but I will definitely be signing up for one of each sub before August 6th. I really hope we don't miss out on the last, most crucial days of these lines.